Paper die cutting machine



Nov. 28, 1939. E. H. CURTIS. JR

PAPER DIE CUTTING MACHINE Filed April l0, 1959 4Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

BY j WM* M ATTORNEY5 Nov. 28, 1939. E H. cURTls, .1R 2,181,639

PAPER DIE CUTTING MACHINE Filed April 1o, 19:59l 4 sheets-sheet 2 //WMMM mmmmmmmm INVENTOR BY WW. MAY WM Nov. 28, 1939. E. H. CURTIS. JR 2.181,639

PAPER DIE CUTTING MACHINE Filed April 1o, 1939 4 sheets-sheet 3 I l j@ INVEATOR )J IIIILI llllllllllll Il ATTORNEY Nov. 28, 1939. y E. H. CURTIS. JR 2,181,639.

PAPER DIE CUTTING MACHINE A\ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\v Y y INYENTOR. ,w W 2( Patented Nov. 28, 1939 UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFFlcE to The Nivison-Weiskop'f Company,

Reading,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio. Application April 10, 1939, `Serial No. .266,962

9 Claims.

This invention relates to paper cutting machinery and is particularly directed to improvements in machines for cutting or trimming stacks of. sheets, having labels printed thereon, to produce the nished labels. The machines also have utility for cutting not only labels but blanks for bags or boxes or for cutting wherever it is desired to cut or die sheets of thin material to nished dimensions.

The present machine employs a hollow die and a cutting block or ram. These elements are relatively movable. The stacks of sheets to be cut, for example, iive hundred or one thousand sheets in each instance, are successively delivered between the cutting block and die and engaged againstV the lower edge of and through the die to produce sheetsof the desired shape or configuration.

The present invention is in the nature of an improvement on the machine disclosed and claimed in the copending application, filed by Harry Donnerberg and Edma H. Curtis, Jr., onV

July 23, 1937, Serial Number 149,930.

It has been the object of the present inventor to provide an improved arrangement of the cutting block and 'guiding means for directing the stack of sheets against the cutting edge of the die. i Due Ato an intertting arrangement of the cutting block and guides, it is possible to utilize a cutting block of considerable size for cutting labels within a relatively wide range of sizes from an extremely small label to an extremely large one. It has been a further object in this particular phase of the invention to provide that the stack is positively and accurately guided in the cutting Astroke from the plane of the surface of the block, at its starting position, until it has been fully cut by the die. The guiding means, therefore, despite the large size of the block, extends irom below the surface of the cutting block, when the-block is at starting position, to the plane of the cutting edge.

.It has been a further object of the inventor to provide an improved arrangement for aligning the stack as it passes intoy the cutting die, in conjunction with the means for sustaining an uncut portion of the stack against the cutting edge of the die as the cutting block returns. The structure here, as in the previous application, consists of fingers, which engage the stack. The improvement resides in the formation of these iingers whereby they have an adjusting or align. ing action on the paper as it iirst engages Vit prior to the application of the cutting pressure, fand wherein :they have an efficient holding or supporting action .on the retained portion of the stack.

llt has been a further object of the inventor to provide a highly eicient automatic switchfor stopping the power delivery to the machine in the event that the stacks of sheets become jammed as they .are .fed :to kthe machine or in the event that they do `not vmove into perfect registery with the guides v,or if some of them lag or are caught in the guideway .leading to the feeding block.

Other objects and certain advantages will be more fully apparent from a description of the drawings in which:

. Figure 1 .is `:a side view of the machine, looking into the :machine from the side into which the operator delivers the stacks of vpaper to be cut. y

Figure 2 is aa rear 'view of the machine with portions shown in section for illustrating the drivingmeans for the ram oi" the cutting block.

Figure 3 is asectional view,`taken on line 3 3, of Figure .1, illustrating the guide means between the block and .the cutting edge of the die and -detailing its adjustment means.

.Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view similar .to Figure 3 but showing the guides adjusted to receive l:relatively large labels to be cut.

Figure 5 a sectional view, taken on line 5 5, Figure 3, detailing the adjustable supporting means for that-guide, against which the stack is abutted when it is delivered-onto `the cutting block.

Figure 6 is -a sectional view, taken on line 6 6, Figure 3,.showing the adjustment means for the guide .means at the intake side of the cutting block.

.Figure 7 is a view taken similar to Figure 3 but .showing the delivery means for moving the stack onto. the cutting block.

rFigure 8 is a sectional view, taken on line 8 8, Figure 7, looking from the back of the machine toward the front, further illustrating the stack delivery means.

Figure 9 is a sectional view, taken on line 9 9, Figure '1, detailing the adjustment means for changing the delivery guide to accommodate paper of vdifferent dimensions.

Figure A10 is a detailed fragmentary view, taken from -Figure `8., showing the adjustable connection of ther feed vslide actuating .lever to the feed slide.

.Figure 1l is a sectional view, taken on line H H., Figure l0, further detailing the adjustable connection.

Figure 12 is afsectional view, taken on line |2 :|.2 .Figure 13 illustrating the automatic stop switch for the motor and detailing the detents, which adjust or align the stack and hold the uncut portion against the cutting edge.

Figure 13 is a sectional View, similar to Figure 12, illustrating a portion of the stack of paper retained on the detents.

Referring to the drawings, the frame of the machine is indicated generally at ,20, A base 2| is provided. The spaced side plates 22 of the frame 20 rise from this base. They are attached thereto by means of angle iron pieces 23. A guide block 24 is xed between the plates for reciprocably mounting the ram 25.

The frame supports a horizontal shaft 26 in bearing lugs 21. The shaft lcarries adouble cam 28, keyed thereon between the plates of theframe The spaced plates of the cam straddle the lower end of the ram and the camperipheries engage the rollers 29, journalled on the respective ends of a horizontal shaft 3U in the lower end of the ram. A retaining flange 3 l fixed to one cam section, overhangs one of the rollers. This ange returns the ram causing the roller to remain in engagement with the .periphery of the cam on the return stroke.

A motor 32 is bolted to the base 2|.and drives a transmission unit 33 by means of a shaft 34. A pinio-n 35 of the transmission unit meshes with a large drivinggear 36, keyed to the shaft 26,. f upon which the cam 28 is mounted.

The upper end of the ram carries the cutting block 3l. This block is reciprocated relative to the die 38 fixed in the upper end of the machine.

The machine frame is formed and mounted so as to lean appreciably (see Figure l.) toward the operator. The leaning arrangement, as will be apparent, provides that the base and side wall of the stack delivery guide 39 incline toward each other. Therefore, the'sheets of the stack tend to settle into the corner and align as they are fed, without any attention on the part of the operator. This guide 39, which guides the stack to the cutting block, is laterally adjustably mounted on a bracket lil fixed to the frame. It provides the AVheretofore described bottom flange 40 and a side flange ffii The upper surface of the-cutting block 3l is inthe same plane with the top surface of the bottom of the guide when the cutting block is at its lower limit. Accordingly, the stack is easilyslid 01T the guide onto the cutting block (see Figure 8) l The actuating means for moving the stack through the guide is mounted upon ani extended guide rail 42 fixed to the bracket 39. This rail vprovides a laterally extended slide retainer or clip i3 at each end. The pusher slide element 44 is guided in these clips and carries a pusher plate 45 at its inner end. The pusher plate includes a iiange 46 having a feathered edge, adapted to er1- gage under the stack and thus make it impossible for any of the bottom sheets to slip under the pusher.

The slide is actuatedvby means of a bellcrank 41,

fulcrumed on a pivot pin 48 in the outer end of a bracket 49, fixed tothe frame. The short or lower arm of the bellcrank carriesA a roller 50, riding on a cam 5i, carried by the main shaft 2B and thereby driven in synchronism with the ram actuating cam 28. The bracket is bifurcated so as to straddle the fulcrumed portion of the lever (see Figure 1). Spacer sleeves 52 are disposed aboutthep'ivot pin betweenV the bifurcations of the bracket and the lever. A coil 'spring' 53 is disposedupon ,oneofthesleeves and has its terminal fixed to the lever.` and one of the bifurcations. This spring is wound to provide a tension which is exerted against the lever and tends to hold it against the cam at all times, thereby dening the range of movement of the slide and providing that the stack is fed under spring pressure. Thus a slight overthrow may be permitted to press the stack of fed labels against the stop guide 54.

The upper end of the lever 41 is disposed between the arms of a lug 55 adjustably attached to the slide 44 by means of screws 56 traversing a slot 57 in the rail. The guide 39 is adjustably mounted in a cross slot 58 at the top surface of the bracket. For this purpose, it carries a cross member 59 in dovetail connection with the slot. A screw 60, having a knurled knob 6| on one end, is screwed into the bracket in parallelism `with the dovetail guideway. The knob has a loose rotative mounting in a bracket 62 xed on the side of the guide. Thus, it is effective for adjusting the guide .laterally as the screw is rotated. l Y

The -cutting die 38 is hollow, providing a straight interior bore with the cutting edge feathered on the outside (see Figure 12). It is adjustably xed in position in a bracket assembly 63 adjustably mounted on vertical posts 64, one at each corner of the frame. Inasmuch as this arrangement is a duplicate of that disclosed in the copending application, it is not believed necessary to describe its details here. Briefly, this die support assembly includes means for clamping the die in position and for varying its position laterally with respect to the axis of the ram. It also includes means for adjusting the cutting edge toward and from the detents, so as to predetermine the number of sheets left uncut on the detents. Further, it includes means rising from the upper end of the die for guiding the cut labels upwardly.

Guides are provided for all four sides of the stack as it is moved upwardly into the die. These guides are best illustrated in Figure 3. As will be apparent from Figures 3 and 4, the cutting block is slotted as at 65 and the guides are in the form of fingers or narrow vertically disposed plates 66 projecting into these slots so as to define a rectangular space. -As illustrated in Figure 3, the guide fingers have been adjusted to the smallest label, Awhich can be accommodated in the machine. In Figure 4, they are set for a large size.

The number of ngers 66 may be varied. It is preferable to include `a multiplicity or row of fingers, extending substantially entirely across the block onvv the lower side, that is, the side toward which the stack moves under the influence of gravity due to theinclination of the machine. This multiplicity of fingers is carried upon a bar 67, which is slotted to receive them. Long drawbolts 68 traverse the bar lengthwise and pass through apertures in the portion of the ngers disposed in the slots of the bar. This bar is xed to the guide 38. Its position disposes the inner ends of the ngers in the same plane with the inner surface of the side flange of the guide 38. Obviously, these lingers are adjusted unitarily with the guide.

In the instance of the nger toward the delivery side, this nger is short in Vertical extent so `as to provide a space therebeneath through which the stack passes onto the cutting block. On the opposite side of the cutting block, a single guiding finger is provided, against which the stack is initially delivered. Two ngers are provided on the side opposite the one which includes the multiplicity of fingers..v The fingers on the respective sides, excepting lthe multiplicity of plates or fingers, which are adjustedwith the guide, areI adjusted by substantially the sametype of means. Accordingly, the description of onemeans will sufce for. all. f Y' A bracket E9 is fixed to one: of. the posts and a slide 1@ is mounted-in aidovetai'ly slot-1|v ofthe bracket.y This slide carriesgthe plateor plates 66 and is adjusted by means of a screw 12 having av knurled knob 13and xedagainstlongitudinal movement. I

Certain of the fingers or plates A-are'provided with detents 14 inorder to aohievea well balancedj arrangement. l Both theguide ngergonthe in,

, under compression seated within recesses in the guide and detent respectively. Outward movement is limited by means of an abutment pin 11. This pin permits the detent to move out, to place its top edge in horizontal position. 'Ihe faces 18 of the detents are inclined so as to provide a ledge at the upper part 'and so as to provide no obstruction at the bottom.

The other detents, that is, those on the delive ery side and on the lower or left hand side, are

arranged as follows: They have knurled or orossnotched faces 19 and rounded lower approach edges. They are guided at their upper and lower portions by means of fixed cross pins 86 traversing horizontal slots 8l in the detents. Springs 82 force them outwardly, therev being two springs for each detent, upper and lower respectively. Normally, the detents stand with their faces generally parallel to the guideway. Since they are permitted to rock yunder some resistance, they counteract the disaligning tendency of the opposite detents with respect to the top sheets. That is, just before the sheets are placed under the cutting pressure, vthere is a 'tendency for the inclined detent face to laterally displace the top sheets. The springs in back of the serrated detents are a little stronger than those in back of the inclined detents and, therefore, maintain the sheets in alignment. The tops of the serrated detents are a little higher than the tops of the inclined detents and the edges of the sheets catch in thev serrations when the ram retracts. At this time the opposite edge of the retained portion of the stack rests on the ledge of the opposite detent.

The safety switch 83, which automatically stops the motonas the stacks become jammed or lag, consists of a lever 84 fulcrumed on the intake guide finger. The tripping end of this switch finger or lever is held by a spring 85 at a point just above the plane of the top of the stack as it passes into the guide chamber. Also, the finger stops just short of the guide chamber. The contact end of the finger engages a contactv 36 and normally holds it against another Contact 81. One of the leads of the motor is connected through these contacts. It will readily be apparent that, if the stack or part of the'stack is not fully within the chamber, the upward movement of the ram will force the lagging part-of circuit. Also if there is a jam as the stackpasses intoi, the chamber, this will break the circuit.

I-l'avingy described my invention, I claim:

1.A- machine for cuttingv labels or the like,

comprising Aa reciprocable cutting block,v means for reciprocating said cutting block, means for delivering a stackvof labels upon said cutting block, a hollow die element located above and in alignment with said cutting block, and guides extending. between said cutting block and said die, `said guides defining a space'approximately the area v of the stack of paper to be cut, said cutting block slottedinwardly from its edges to provide clearance-for said guides.

2.` n a machinefor cutting stacks of'thin sheetv material into sheets of predetermined shape,`a

cutting block adapted to receive the stack there'-4 on, a die above said cutting block, guide plates extended between the `cutting block and die, the inner edges of said plates defining the guide, said cutting block out away to provide clearance whereby the guide platesvmay be adjusted to define large or small space upon the surface of the cutting b-lock. n

3. A machine for lcutting labels or the like from blanks, a cutting block, a die, said cutting block adapted to support a stack of blanks, said'stack of blanks adapted to be moved against the cutting edge of the die, and guide means between the die and cutting block, said' guide means eX- tending below the supporting surface of the cutting block when the cutting block is at its lowest position, and said guide means adapted to be adjusted within the area of the cutting blocks upper surface. j

4. In a machine for cutting labels or the like, a cutting block and die, adjacently disposed guide means between said block and die, said guides arranged'tov provide a lateral opening to the top surface of the cutting block, means for reciproeating said cutting block, means for delivering stacksof paper thereto, a control switchfor said power means, said switch arranged in said lateral opening with its trip finger disposed therein and just short of the guideway space whereby the switch is tripped when the paper jams or is not properly aligned with the guides to the die.

5. A machine for cutting sheets of predetermined shape from blanks comprising a cutting block adapted to receive a stack of blanks on its upper surface, a die, guides defining a guide space between the cutting block and the die, detents on said guide means located just below the die cutting edge, said detents` providing ledges adapted to engage the'lower face of the stack to hold the thegstack against the tripv finger and vbreak the uncut portion adjacent the die edge, certain of stacks of paper thereto, a control means for said power means, said means disposed in said lateral opening whereby the means is operated when the paper jams or is not properly aligned with the guides to the die.

7. A machine for cutting sheets of' predeterminedshape from blanks comprising a cutting block adapted to receive a stack of blanks on its upper surface, a die, guides defining a guide space between the cutting block and the die, detents on the inner faces of said guide means located just below the die cutting edge, said detents providing ledges adapted to engagey the lower face of the stack to hold the uncut portion adjacent the die edge, certain of said detents yieldably mounted for depression laterally at any point.

8. In a machine for cutting thin sheet material, a cutting block, a die, a guideway between said block and die, a lateral passageway to the surface of the block, means for delivering a stack of sheet blanks to said block through said lateral passageway, power means for causing said stack to be engaged against the cutting edge of the die, and control means for said power means located in said lateral passageway and tripped by jamming or lagging of the stacks of blanks.

9. In a machine for cutting stacks of labels or the like, comprising a cutting block, a die opposite said cutting block, means for delivering a stack of blanks to said cutting block, means for moving said block and die relatively for engaging said stack against said die, a guideway between saiddie and block, detents in the inner faces of the guideway adjacent the edge of said die, all of said detents providing ledges, and certain of the detents providing inwardly upwardly slanting inner surfaces terminating in ledges and the others providing inner surfaces disposed parallel to the guideway and depressible at any point. EDMA H. CURTIS, JR. 

